ST. PETERSBURG - Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority launched a new transparency initiative Aug. 7 that puts all public records requests online for the public to view.

The action makes PSTA the first public transit agency in Florida and one of Tampa Bay's first governmental agencies to puts its public records requests online.

Users can visit psta.net/publicrecords.php and see all public records requests dating back to Jan. 1, 2014. The requests can be searched in real time, and details include the record requestor's name, date of requests, topic of requests and completion status for all requests.

"We are proud to be one of the most transparent and open public services in Florida, and launching this new effort really amplifies that," said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. "From the onset, PSTA's Greenlight Pinellas mass transit planning initiative has been based on transparency and inclusiveness, and this is one more way we are meeting that goal. By putting these requests online, we are giving the public the ability to see not only the volume of requests we receive - more than 350 in the first half of this year alone - but also the action we are taking on those requests. This is an historic move that directly benefits the taxpayers we're proud to serve."

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is the public transit provider for Pinellas County, providing more than 14.4 million rides per year. PSTA operates nearly 40 bus and trolley routes with a fleet of 203 vehicles. More information is available at www.PSTA.net.